Affective Issues in Giftedness

Addressing the Social-Emotional Needs

of Gifted Learners

Patti Wood, Ph.D.Samford University

AFFECTIVE

Issues

Giftedness as an Asset…

Intrinsic motivation

Giftedness as an Asset…

Better psychological

health

Giftedness as an Asset…

More independent

Giftedness as an Asset…

Flexible

Do you have kids like this

in your classroom?

What are your key concerns with your

gifted learners?

Unwilling To Participate

Reluctant to take risks

A Discomfort With Competition

Fear of Failure

Fear of Success

Defensive Disruptive Behavior

Peer Pressures

Bullying

UnmotivatedDefiant

Depression

Isolation

Withdrawal

Feelings of…

SuicidePoor S

elf-Concept

Stress

Asynchronous Development

Minority status

Low SES

Family does not value education

Hiding one’s talents

Poor self esteem or

self-concept

Factors that Obscure Giftedness

Twice-exceptional

Two Key Concerns

underachievement

perfectionism

The Underachievement of Gifted Students

Underachievers are students who exhibit a severe discrepancy between expected achievement and actual achievement.

Do schools foster underachievement?

Above Average

Average

Special Needs

Below Average

Gifted

Characteristics of Gifted Underachievers

• low self-esteem• avoidance behavior• defensive behavior• rebellion

Characteristics of Gifted

Underachievers

• deficient academic skills

• poor study habits• peer problems• poor concentration• discipline problems

Underachievement: School Factors

• inappropriate curriculum

• negative interactions with teachers

• negative school environment

• inflexible schedule• extrinsic motivation

Reversing Underachievement

Self-regulation

strategies

Parents

Teacher orMentor

Out-of-school experiences

Smaller student-teacher

ratio Having a confidant

Perfectionism: A Learned Behavior?

• Family pressure• Self-pressure• Social pressure• Media pressure• Unrealistic role models

Social-Emotional Needs of the Gifted: Counseling Strategies

• Affective curriculum implemented by teachers• Reading and discussing self-help books• Survival guides• Collections of quotations• Guides to parenting gifted children• Bibliotherapy• Cinematherapy• Group counseling

Social Issues: Ten Common Criticisms of the

Gifted1. Why don’t you slow down?2. You worry about everything.3. Can’t you just stick with one thing?4. You’re so sensitive and dramatic!5. You have to do everything the hard way.6. You’re so demanding.7. Can’t you ever be satisfied?8. You’re so driven.9. Where do you get all those wild ideas?10. Who do you think you are?

(Jacobsen, Liberating Everyday Genius)

Make your own decisions and take your own

initiative no matter what!

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

Carl Jung